News
Prospective seafarers lose lakhs on bogus jobs while agents delay reimbursements
Hundreds of seafarer-hopefuls have been allegedly ripped off millions of rupees by two marine recruiting agents, after they were promised lucrative employment on foreign ships, in return for a large fee, it was revealed this week. International Transport-workers Federation’s (ITF) Ranjan Perera said that between 100 and 200 seafarer-hopefuls had been duped, allegedly by these two agents who claim to possess an operating licence.
He said the victims included engineers, deck hands, canteen crew and even a few officers. “Most victims also possess Seaman’s Discharge Certificate (CDC) which is required to gain employment on a vessel,” Mr Perera said.He added that the two agents, who belong to a single family, operate from locations in Wellawatte.
He said that each victim is charged between Rs. 300,000 and Rs. 500,000, depending on the job, company and vessel and are promised placement one month after an advance of the fee is paid.
“But in most cases, the jobs are never given as promised, and the victims are compelled to make daily visits to the respective agents for reimbursement, which is paid in installments, and over a lengthy period of time,” Mr. Perera added. Most victims opt to refrain from taking the matter up with the police, fearing it may end in a prolonged court procedure, where they could be the loser at the end.
In the most recent case, Roshan Abeylath – a supervisor on a crew boat – paid an advance of Rs. 150,000 on the fee, to the agent, after he was promised a job on a ship leaving from Indonesia. “However, on arrival in Indonesia, I was deported the following day, as the agent had not provided me with a landing visa.
“This happened on March 17, and the agent still owes me Rs. 50,000, after he returned Rs. 100,000, two months after my return to the country and following several visits to his office in Wellawatte,” said Abeylath, a father of one.
Merchant Shipping Director General Ajith Seneviratne said none of the victims had brought up the matter with his office, and advised them to take the matter up with the relevant police division. “It is the police that should be called into investigate such matters since it is fraud of a criminal nature,” he said.
He added that the operating licence of a particular agent in Wellawatte was not renewed for the current year since it was under probe for various malpractices.